Vibrations Studios

From out of the shadows comes one of South Africa’s most gifted bassist and songwriters, determined to make an impact on the country’s jazz scene with his debut album.

The artist in question is Lucas Senyatso and the album is “All of Me”, a magnificent first time album from someone who has long been the bet kept secret on the home-grown music scene. “I’ve been around, that’s for sure,’ Lucas says – with some modesty. The artist has, in fact, played with a who’s who of South Africans, including Bra Hugh Masekela, Sibongile Khumalo and Gloria Bosman.

But for this immensely likeable and clearly talented 34 year old, the time has come to showcase just what he can do, to offer up “All of Me’ to an audience who is likely to welcome him with open arms. It’s the realisation of a dream for Lucas who grew up in the Mmabatho, studied at the Mmabana Cultural Centre and in 1992, earned a Communications degree from the University of the North West.

In his debut, Lucas has crafted a superior album of real elegance and maturity that places the spotlight firmly on this bassist, who is as adept at the six – string version of his instrument of choice as its conventional manifestations. “We were very flexible in the recording of the album,” Lucas says.

The 11 – song on “All of Me” wander through a diversity of material – from straight ahead Afro – jazz to searingly soulful ballads, as herd on the instantly catchy “Baby You” which features the lead vocals of Siya Makhuzeni. The musicality of “All of Me” is evident in the many production touches that elevate the songs into a fantastic musical terrain, whether it’s the horns on “Baby You”, or the guitar work that picks up the pace on “Mmabatho ya di Busa’, there are twists and turns in the production that work to sustain the interest of the listener throughout and earn Lucas many many fans.